Bethesda’s Building Boom, A Year Later

Last year around this time, we tooka look at the many construction projects going on around downtown Bethesda.

A year later, a few of those projects are done or near completion. Some have made significant progress, but still have a ways to go. Others broke ground and still more are scheduled to start.

Here’s a quick reference guide of some of the major construction projects in Bethesda, as of April 2014.

The Gallery of Bethesda, Rugby Avenue

The first of two buildings in Donohoe’s Gallery of Bethesda project was completed earlier this year. The 17-story, 235-unit apartment bills itself as the tallest building in Bethesda and has begun move-ins. A 16-story, 221-unit companion building is planned for next door, though ground hasn’t been broken on that project.

Bainbridge Bethesda, Fairmont and St Elmo Avenues

This 17-story, 200-unit apartment building isn’t completely finished. Demolition of older buildings and excavation work began in August 2011, but controversy soon followed.

The building is expect to be completed later this year, possibly this summer.

Lot 31, Bethesda and Woodmont Avenues

This multi-faceted project meant closing Woodmont Avenue south of Bethesda Avenue in September 2012. When the underground garage — a 940-space facility to be operated by Montgomery County — is done, the road will reopen. That’s expected later this year.

On top of that will go a 64-unit luxury condominium building (The Darcy) and a 186-unit apartment building (The Flats) from developer StonebridgeCarras.

The five-floor, four-unit building between Arlington Road and Woodmont Avenue is on the site of a former single family home and will soon have company.

The Lauren, 4901 Hampden Lane

That company will come in the form of The Lauren, an ultra-luxury condo building slated for just around the corner from Montgomery Lane. The developer there got demolition approval in February.

Element 28, Old Georgetown Road and Commerce Lane

The 15-story, 120-unit apartment from developer Kettler will go on the existing site of the United Bank near the Bethesda Metro station. The bank moved to another building on Wisconsin Avenue and the demolition permit for that building has been issued.

Woodmont View, Battery Lane and Woodmont Triangle

Developer Duball will break ground on its nine-story, 46-unit luxury condo project at the corner of Battery Lane and Woodmont Triangle later this year. It could be interesting. The building will have just 60 feet of frontage on Battery Lane and must be sandwiched between Woodmont Avenue and an existing mid-rise apartment building.

Completion is slated for 2016.

7100 Wisconsin

The longtime site of the gas station that housed Eastham’s Auto Servicenter will soon be home to a 120-foot-tall, 139-unit apartment building from Washington Property Company.